The ceremony took place at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York City, and was broadcast live by the First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York.
As he nears his 70th birthday, the two-time Academy Award winner reflected on his spiritual journey.
“In one week, I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here,” Washington stated during the service, expressing his appreciation for his wife, Pauletta Washington, who was present to support him.
He recounted a transformative experience from his youth, sharing a prophecy he received from Ruth Green, a woman he encountered in his mother’s beauty salon when he was 20 years old.
“She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people," Washington recalled.
“My mother wrote the word ‘prophecy.’ Fifty years later, look at God. If He can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you.”
Washington, who is known for his strong Christian faith, has been candid about his beliefs, even as discussions of religion are rare in Hollywood.
In a recent essay for Esquire, he expressed his determination to share his spiritual views, stating, “I’m unafraid. I don’t care what anyone thinks… It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, Washington reflected on his official integration into his faith community. “It took a while, but I’m here,” he reiterated, attributing his journey to divine guidance and the support of his “loving, faithful wife.”